MS SB2673

Creates the Guardian Ad Litem Transparency and Oversight Panel chaired by the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, with 14 additional members including judges, legislators, and court officials, to investigate guardian ad litem appointments and costs.

Requires chancery clerks to report to the Administrative Office of Courts copies of invoices, payment orders, and fee petitions for guardian ad litem cases exceeding $1,000 within one month of payment approval.

Panel duties include compiling and analyzing reported information, assessing feasibility of full-time county guardians ad litem, and recommending legislative improvements by December 1 each year.

Panel automatically terminates on December 31, 2020.

Effective date is April 1, 2017; does not apply to youth court matters.